Photograph: Alumna meeting with student.

2016 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

Earl Hatcher, JD '23 and H '69 (posthumous)

Photograph: Earl Hatcher.Earl Hatcher graduated with honors from Washburn Law, and the following year he joined the faculty and took a leading role in raising funds for a new law school following the 1966 tornado. He spent 11 years on the Kansas Supreme Court as the Court reporter and wrote several hundred opinions for the Court that encompass more than three volumes. His Hatcher's Digest was used for more than three decades as a great reference to attorneys throughout the State of Kansas. He spent three years in charge of the Kansas Bar Examiner's office located on the Washburn campus. He was Alf Landon’s campaign manager during Landon's run for president.


The Honorable J. Thomas Marten, BA '73 and JD '76

Photograph: Thomas Marten.Chief Judge Tom Marten, a native Kansan, was appointed to the bench in 1996, and was appointed Chief Judge of the District of Kansas in 2014. After serving as law clerk to retired Associate Justice Tom C. Clark of the United States Supreme Court, he spent 19 years practicing law in Nebraska, Minnesota, and Kansas, including 14 years as a member of Bremyer & Wise, P.A. in McPherson, Kansas. Judge Marten is a founding member of the Wesley E. Brown Inn of Court, a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences, and has taught trial advocacy at Harvard Law School for more than 25 years.


Frank Ross, Jr., JD '78

Photograph: Frank Ross, Jr..After graduating from Kansas State University in 1975, Frank Ross earned his juris doctor from the Washburn University School of Law in 1978. He took his LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. As a Washburn Law student, Ross was the recipient of the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, was assistant editor of the Washburn Law Journal, and a member of the Washburn Moot Court Council. He also served on the Washburn University School of Law Alumni Association Board of Governors. Ross is currently chair of Polsinelli's Business Department and has led the department's growth from 30 attorneys in 1998 to more than 375 professionals in 2016, serving clients across the nation.